Part 5 – the Doctrinal Implications:
I
have tried to present the case here for the New Testament to primarily, if not
totally, have Hebrew as its original language of composition. I have not in any
way been exhaustive and dealt with every single book of the NT, although I
believe the arguments presented here, though primarily focussing on the
Synoptic Gospels and the Epistles of Paul, can fairly be applied to all of the
NT.
Added
to this, I have tried to highlight some of the many very serious issues
regarding deliberate distortions of the original text. For example, I recommend you reconsider
Romans 3:10-18. What doctrine is being falsely promoted here? If this doctrine
is not true, what is? What understanding does the Tanakh instead promote? I
leave this issue to your prayerful study and reflection.
In
introducing the implications of these arguments I had earlier in this article spoken of some uniquely
Christian doctrines; such as, doctrines of atonement and doctrines of
exclusiveness.
Some
of these doctrines, including ‘Replacement Theology’ seek, even if not
intentionally, to separate the Church from its Jewish/Hebraic heritage. Often
coupled with them are doctrines that argue for the abolition of the Torah and
for a reduced role for repentance in the process of salvation.
Rather
than go into any detail on these doctrines that may need revisiting, I wish to
make just a couple of points and leave the rest to the believers own personal
journey of seeking and discovering truth.
Firstly, a very valid and fundamental
question is, what can we believe and what remains when we remove the
distortions that can be identified?
My answer is a great deal! Firstly,
the bedrock of our faith is surely to have the ‘faith of Yeshua’[1],
which was the faith of Abraham, and that is faith in the God of Israel who is
so clearly introduced to us through the Tanakh. Nothing written here in anyway
reduces the centrality, the foundation that is the Scriptures that Yeshua and
Paul loved and knew.
Secondly, there is very little in
the way of questions or controversy over the words of Yeshua. Most
significantly, Yeshua when asked what was required to inherit the Kingdom,
answered ‘obey the commandments’. He also said that his brothers and sisters
were those who ‘do the will of the Father’. Both John the Baptist and Yeshua
said ‘Repent, for the Kingdom is at hand’.
Thus, repentance and obedience seem
to be central to faithfulness. That is, if we are to put our trust in the
Almighty as Yeshua and Abraham did, then we are called to turn back to Him and
to live life’s of obedience and submission to Him.
To conclude, below is a paraphrase
of a quote from my article ‘The Resurrection and Jewish Skepticism’:
The use of the Septuagint, combined
with the distortions that it’s use appears to have facilitated “ .. has led to an almost maniacal and
unbelievable degree of anti-Semitism in the world and especially within many
circles inside Christianity (the religion that purports to follow a Jewish
Messiah).
Further, this anti-Semitism lead mainstream
Christianity to loose itself from its Hebraic roots …
The Hellenistic adoption and overthrow of Christianity
has also led to a great many other beliefs that contradict the TaNaK such as
the immortality of the soul. …
While the very poor witness of Christendom may not be
well known to the world at large, to the Jewish world which knows its Hebrew
Bible, the TaNaK, and knows it in the original Hebrew language, the witness
they see is not good.
They see a Christian world which has in many ways
distorted ‘their’ scriptures as it has mistranslated them or mis-used them in
the New Testament and associated writings.
They see a witness which has much ‘bad fruit’ and so
quite correctly and perhaps justifiably, reply to Christendom to look in the
mirror as they quote Matthew 7:16-20, as well as Luke 13:6-9 and then John
15:2-16.
A most significant portion of John 15 is verse 10: “If you keep my commandments, you will
abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his
love.”
From a Biblical and Jewish perspective, Christianity
has little idea of what Jesus meant here, or of how to live this truth 24/7.”
The Creator and King of the Universe[2]
has revealed Himself through nature and through the Holy Bible. The Hebrew
Scriptures are the lowest common denominator for both Judaism and Christianity,
and the most fundamental and foundational written revelation of the Almighty to
the world.
When the incredible and unique revelation
of the resurrection of Yeshua, is added to this foundation, and properly
understood and integrated, the result is a much more holistic and balanced
worldview than most could possibly imagine.
The great and awesome Day of YHWH
approaches. The incredible revelation of Isaiah 49 beckons![3]
It is time to get our house in order; to be united in purpose and truth with
our Jewish brothers so that we can speak the love and comfort of HaShem into
this lost and hurting world.
No comments:
Post a Comment